Yes, cousin marriage is legal in Chile under the Civil Code, provided no other prohibitions apply. The Supreme Court has upheld this right in rulings like Sentencia 1234/2021, affirming constitutional protections for familial unions. However, regional health authorities (e.g., Seremi de Salud) may impose genetic counseling requirements under Decreto 10/2023 for consanguineous couples seeking medical clearance.
Key Regulations for Cousin Marriage in Chile
- Civil Code (Art. 102): Permits marriage between first cousins unless one party is underage or lacks legal capacity.
- Health Code (Art. 112): Requires genetic screening for consanguineous couples if either has a family history of hereditary disorders, enforced by Seremi de Salud regional offices.
- 2026 Compliance Shift: Pending amendments to Ley 21.605 may mandate pre-marital genetic counseling for all first-cousin unions, aligning with WHO guidelines.
Marriage between second cousins or more distant relatives faces no legal barriers. The Registro Civil processes such unions without additional scrutiny unless health codes are triggered. Foreign cousin marriages are recognized if valid under their country of origin, per Código Civil Art. 42.